Client Name
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
Industry
Marine & Tourism
Location
Antarctica
Client Size
Large
Website
Services Offered
- Custom GHG Inventory Scope 1 & 3.3
- Custom Reporting
Challenge
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) was founded in 1991 to advocate for and promote safe, environmentally responsible tourism in Antarctica. IAATO works within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System and comprises a diverse membership of Antarctic tourism operators, including deep-field, air-cruise, and seaborne-only operators. Their members range from single small sailing yacht expeditions to large cruise ship companies, creating vastly different operational footprints across the industry.
In 2024, IAATO needed to conduct a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory that would help its member Operators better to understand their footprint in Antarctica as part of their commitment to reduce emissions. IAATO has pledged to align with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) target of reducing emissions 50% over a 2008 baseline by 2050 and the global goals of net zero before 2050.
As a member organization, IAATO collects operational data from its members but maintains confidentiality around individual operator information. IAATO needed to report association-wide emissions while ensuring no single member could be identified or unfairly compared to others. The association also faced dual reporting requirements—they needed one comprehensive report for the IAATO Secretariat and a separate version for their members that wouldn’t create competitive advantages or disadvantages within the membership. This project went beyond calculating fuel emissions and producing a standard report; IAATO needed a custom deliverable to address their unique organizational structure, meeting the requirements for the Secretariat while communicating high-level results to the members.
IAATO sought a collaborative approach to this project, aiming to work closely with a consulting team that could deliver custom solutions while accounting for complex organizational dynamics and data sensitivity.
Synergy’s Solution
Technical Approach
The technical scope of this project focused on measuring the fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions:
- Scope 1 emissions: Direct emissions from fuel combustion during operations (tank-to-wake emissions)
- Scope 3.3 emissions: Fuel & Energy Related Emissions from fuel production and distribution (well-to-tank). Including scope 3.3 ensures the lifecycle emissions from fuel use are accounted for.
Fuel consumption data was collected from all of IAATO’s member Operators under anonymous IDs and calculated by Synergy using the relevant emissions factors. In addition to the GHG measurement, a comprehensive methodology section outlining scope, measurement boundaries, and calculation methodologies was included to show transparency to members and the Secretariat. The results revealed significant variance across different operator types while offering industry-wide patterns that could be used to inform future reduction strategies.
Managing Complex Data Requirements
Synergy also worked with IAATO and its members to address minor data challenges that emerged during the initial review. Working collaboratively with IAATO, Synergy suggested improvements in data collection for aspects such as charter flight allocation and passenger metrics, aiming to streamline data collection and processing in the future, with reduced time requirements for the committee.
Innovative Report Development Process
After the completion of the technical components of the report, Synergy used a custom collaborative approach to report development. Instead of preparing a complete report and presenting it for feedback, the team first presented their initial findings to IAATO’s Climate Change Committee, then worked together to determine how the results should be visualized and presented. This process ensured that the sensitive nature of the data was respected while delivering the analytical insights IAATO needed.
Implementation and Results
With the guidance of the Climate Change Committee, Synergy created a report for the Secretariat that included detailed methodology and individual operator data (maintaining anonymization), as well as a member report providing industry-wide insights without creating comparisons.
During the review period, Synergy wanted to ensure that all perspectives and concerns from IAATO’s Climate Change Committee, comprising roughly 20 members, were addressed. Synergy established a review system that grouped individual feedback, ensuring all feedback was incorporated while maintaining project momentum. This approach resulted in a thorough review, efficiently addressing all concerns and avoiding multiple revision cycles.
Long-term Impact
This project not only measured the fuel emissions produced during the season, but also built a foundation for ongoing emissions measurement. The process improvements implemented based on the first year’s experience have streamlined data collection for subsequent reporting cycles, benefiting both IAATO and its members.
The work also represents an important step in IAATO’s broader environmental leadership. IAATO’s commitment to continued measurement and net-zero targets demonstrates how industry associations can take meaningful climate action while navigating the complexities of being a large member organization.
Key Takeaways
Custom Solutions for Complex Organizations
Working with IAATO demonstrated that successful sustainability consulting sometimes requires creating new approaches. The Association’s reporting needs, confidentiality requirements, and diverse membership structure required a custom solution that standard reporting methods could not provide. This project’s success depended on the understanding that technical expertise must be paired with collaboration and flexibility.
Collaborative Methodology Drives Better Outcomes
This was one of the first projects Synergy piloted using a highly collaborative report design and feedback process, which involved presenting findings, collaborating on report visualizations, and creating a process for feedback from many stakeholders. This approach received positive feedback and has since been implemented in other complex organizational projects.
Early-Stage Climate Action Leadership
IAATO’s commitment to emissions measurement and net-zero demonstrates that organizations don’t need perfect solutions to begin meaningful climate action. By starting with fuel consumption, their largest impact area, IAATO established a foundation for future scope expansion and decarbonization efforts while meeting environmental obligations. This approach shows how industry associations can drive sector-wide change by taking the first steps toward comprehensive climate accountability.
This project represents how custom sustainability solutions can address the unique challenges faced by complex organizations. Each engagement requires careful attention to stakeholder dynamics, technical requirements, and organizational constraints to deliver meaningful climate action.
If your organization is looking for a custom approach to advance its climate leadership, contact us to get started.
